General Requirements for Tourist Entry

Posted By: Tom T House
Date: 3/7/06 7:59a.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

I thought this interesting and worth passing along: General Requirements for Tourist Entry Migration If your nationality is not Mexican and you have no other migratory form in Mexico, in order to enter the country you need to have one Tourist Migratory Form (FM-T) per person. These forms are obtained at the first port of entry, at the borders, or at the Mexican Consulates and Embassies. Make sure your Migratory Form is stamped and authorized by the migratory authority. Your permit is good for a maximum of 180 days. If, during your stay, you decide to prolong your trip for a period longer than the one granted by your permit, you should request its extension from the migratory authorities before its expiration. In the case of U.S.A. and Canadian citizens, the FM-T may be obtained by presenting one of the following documents: A) Passport B) Birth certificate, accompanied by a photo I.D. or C) Voter’s card, accompanied by a photo I.D. It is necessary to have the migratory form with you while you remain in Mexico, and turn it in when you leave the country. For a minor to enter the country, he must be accompanied by his parents, or have a notarized letter from the absent father or mother, or from both of them, authorizing him (her) to leave the country. Non-Immigrant Fee ( DNI ) Since 1999, Mexico, like many other countries, charges a fee for the authorization of non- immigrant migratory status. The resources that are collected through this fee are used for the promotion of Tourism in Mexico and for the assistance and improvement of migratory services, this fee is $210.00 pesos, it is updated annually. You must pay the DNI fee at any national bank, and submit the paid form when leaving the Mexican territory. Since 2003 tourists who enter by road are exempt from the DNI payment if the period of stay is not longer than seven days. It is recommended that you check the current status of this situation with the National Institute of Migration (http://www.inm.gob.mx) or with the Secretariat of Tourism (www. sectur.gob.mx). The tourists going to Puerto Peñasco do not have to pay a fee. All foreigners who enter Mexico must pay this fee, except those who have immigrant or immigrated status, or who are visitors with an FM–3. Passengers with connecting flights in Mexico or in transit (whose stay is less than three days) diplomats with an official or service VISA, and crew members are also exempt. Entry by air.- It is very important that before buying your airplane ticket to come to Mexico, you know what requirements must be fulfilled in order to enter the country and, if necessary, you personally process your VISA. Although your travel agency can advise you on the procedures, it is advisable that you personally confirm the information by telephone with the Mexican Consulate or Embassy closest to you. This is because if you don’t comply with some requirements, the migratory authorities could deny your access to Mexico, returning you immediately on the first available flight. If you come to Mexico by commercial airline, the crew will give you an FM-T form. In the case of entry to Mexico by airliner or charter plane, the airline itself will include the DNI in the price of your ticket. It is advisable that, if you are a Mexican or have some distinct migratory status in Mexico (FM-2 or FM-3 ) you make aware of this the travel agency or the airline, so that you are not charged the DNI in the price of your ticket . If it is charged, you must apply for its refund afterwards. If you are travelijng with children, both parents MUST be present. If both are not present, legal permission by the one not present must be in hand. If one is deceased or divorce is involved, again legal documents must be in hand. If you have ANY questions, seek out the answers BEFORE you leave the USA and attempt entry into Mexico. If you enter the country by private airplane, you must pay the DNI in any bank in national territory and present your paid form upon your departure from Mexican territory. Entry by land.- When arriving at the international dividing line, you will see the customs signs that will indicate two options: one stating “nothing to declare “and the other “lane for declaration”. If you enter by land, you have the right to enter tax free, carrying in addition to your personal luggage an amount of up to usc $ 50.00 or its equivalent in foreign currency, in one or several articles, except in the case of beer, alcoholic drinks, commercial tobacco and automobile fuel (in addition to the gas, /diesel tank of the vehicle, which shall comply with the specifications of the manufacturer). Remember that one customs declaration form must be filled out per family and not individually. The amount is accumulative per family. If you choose the lane “nothing to declare”, you will go to the mechanism of automated selection (fiscal traffic light) which will determine if you will be subject to inspection or if you will exit out freely. On the contrary, if the merchandise you are carrying exceeds the amount of the allowed, if you are carrying animals, farming products, or medicines, or if you are holding more than $ 10, 000.00 US dollars or its equivalent amount in documents or other currency, you must enter through “ the lane for customs declaration ”. If you are holding goods exceeding your tax exemption, you must follow the step of tax payment in the corresponding customs booth. Or, if you have merchandise for over $ 1,000.00 USA dollars you must import the merchandise through a customs broker. When the fiscal traffic light turns green you may immediately leave the customs area without further steps. When it turns red, park your vehicle where the inspector may indicate and allow for your luggage and vehicle in which you are traveling to be checked. Absolutely do not bring fire arms, gun powder or ammunition into Mexico without a permit. it is considered a felony. "Only Sonora" moves south and it's easier to visit Sonora Visitors to the interior of Sonora are now able to drive directly to such cities as Guaymas (San Carlos), Hermosillo, Bahia de Kino , Caborca, Father Kino Missions, Magdalena and Santa Ana without the time-consuming process of obtaining a car permit. With the movement of the "Only Sonora" vehicle checkpoint, visitors to the state will no longer have to obtain a car permit in order to travel south of Nogales. Now, paperwork to obtain the decal for visiting the interior of the state of Sonora will be done at a new checkpoint located at kilometer 98 on Highway 15, just south of the Guaymas-bypass on the road between Ciudad Obregon and Empalme. The change is effective December 15, 2005. For the next six months, Sonora will continue to staff a booth at the 21 KM checkpoint that will take paperwork from vehicles that are returning to the US. Minimally, the elimination of this paperwork means a savings of 15 minutes. However, around certain holidays, the measure may save visitors several hours. The "Only Sonora" program, unique in Mexico, allows Americans to visit Sonora without paying the customary (federal) fee of $27. "Our intention here is to make it easier for Americans to visit Sonora," said Gov. Eduardo Bours. "This measure should cut anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour off a trip to Hermosillo, Bahia de Kino, Guaymas or San Carlos. As importantly, it removes psychological barriers -- the less paperwork required for people to get from one place to another, the better. Sonora --and other "free zones" in Mexico's border areas --have experienced incredible growth when we eliminate paperwork. By moving "Only Sonora" south, we're confident that we'll inspire new visitors and bring our states closer together." Travelers intending to go beyond Sonora will still have to obtain a so-called "Banjercito" federal permit. A permit is not required for travel to Rocky Point and other border cities, which are classified as "free-zones." Required for a permit: proof of US residency; a driver's license, proof of vehicle ownership. Motorists entering Sonora through Nogales, Naco, Agua Prieta, Sasabe, Sonoyta and San Luis Rio Colorado will not need paperwork for their vehicles, either, if their destination is before the new 'Only Sonora' checkpoint. "Only Sonora" requires motorists to show proof of US residency; a visa to visit Mexico; a driver's license and proof of vehicle ownership. Americans, Canadians and other foreign citizens going beyond the Kilometer 21 Checkpoint into Mexico's interior will still be required to obtain a visa, which is valid for up to 6 months and good for multiple entries. The Banjercito booth will remain at KM21. Neither a permit nor a visa is required to visit Rocky Point (Puerto Peñasco) and other border cities which are classified as "free-zones". Temporary vehicle importation Banjercito To introduce an automobile of foreign origin (having license plates different to those of Mexico) it is necessary to have a provisional importation license. Such permit is obtained at any branch of Banjercito; for foreigners it is granted for the length of the term their migratory status lasts, including extensions; in the case of Mexicans, it is granted for 180 days within a year. With the option of multiple entries and departures, as long as the following requirements are fulfilled: A) Submitting the original and a copy of the documentation guaranteeing the migratory status or legal residence abroad. 1.- In the case of foreigners : ID and a copy of the documentation issued by the National Institute of Migration authorizing the migratory status; both of them will be current up to date. 2.-In the case of Mexicans: the document that may authorize the legal residence abroad or the official documentation proving the migratory status that may authorize the person to work abroad for up to a year. B) Submit the original and a copy of the documentation authorizing the legal property of the vehicle (title), letter of credit or partial invoice granted by the business or institution that may correspond if the vehicle has not been totally paid for. If the vehicle has been leased, the contract in the name of the interested party and with the characteristics of the vehicle must be submitted. In case of vehicles belonging to companies, the document proving the labor relationship of the interested party with the company, in addition of proving the legal property of the vehicle under the name of the company. The interested party may carry out the corresponding procedure although the document proving the property of the vehicle may be to the name of his / her spouse, ascendant or descendant, which must be proved with the corresponding legal documentation, such as marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc. C) Sign the application of provisional importation of the vehicle by attaching a written document where the person declares under oath his / her commitment to return the vehicle within the authorized term, and not to perform acts or omissions that may constitute infringement or crimes due to its bad use or destination. D) Guarantee the payment of the fiscal credits that may result if not returning the vehicle within the anticipated term or due to infringements mentioned in the applicable laws, through cash deposit, for the amount corresponding to the vehicle’s model. Model Import of the guarantee 1999 to 2003 usc $400.00 1994 to 1998 usc $ 300.00 previous models usc $ 200.00 Banjercito is authorized to receive in cash the guarantee and payment for the negotiation, also to generate the documents that protect the provisional importation of the vehicle, to cancel the guarantee and, when it may be the case, return the amount mentioned above, as long as the importer returns the vehicle to the foreign country within the set time and the return be recorded at any of the Banjercito branches located at the borders of the north and south of the country. Otherwise, Banjercito will wire transfer the amount of the previously mentioned guarantee to the treasurer’s office of the federation on the next working day following the date on which the term of the provisional importation expires. E) Pay Banjercito an amount in national currency, equivalent to US $ 27.00 (plus corresponding tax) to pay for the provisional importation of the vehicle. It is important to mention that when making the payment with an international credit or debit card, issued abroad in the name of the importer he / she will be relieved from granting the guarantee mentioned in clause d ) F) Not to have previously imported a vehicle that has not been returned to the foreign country, or if the vehicle was returned and the return was not recorded at any of the Banjercito branches.